The Saxonia
Class Liners

Page 3

Sitmar’sFairlandand Fairwindfinally arrived in Trieste on 21 February,
and 14 January 1970 respectively at the Arsenale Triestino
San Marco shipyard to be completely remodelled as cruise ships, essentially for
the US
market. After their completion,Fairlandwas
renamedFairsea,and theFairwind became elegant, sleek looking vessels for
their day. Their onboard facilities were second to none for its day, being
ideal ships for the fussy US
cruising market.

Sitmar's two new Cruise Ships - TSS Fairwind and Fairsea

Fairsea departed the shipyard on 2 November 1971 and sailed
on her first cruise in December 1971. Fair Princess’
purser, Mr John Nicoli, (Purser during the New
Zealand cruise January / February 2000), sailed on Fairsea’s
maiden cruise for Sitmar, with the position of “second storage
master.”Fairwind
departed and commenced her new life as a cruise ship two months later. Both
ships were successful cruise ships, and became greatly loved by those that
sailed on them over the many years.

Fairsea in Juneau
1977(Taken by 2nd Officer Luca Ferrerio)

Fairsea’s
sister ship, Fairwind at anchor– (by Luca Ferrerio)

Sitmar goes P&O / Princess

In 1988 P&O Princess
Cruises, purchased Sitmar.Fairseawas renamedFair
PrincessandFairwindbecame Dawn Princess.Fair Princessmade her first visit to Australia
when she called into Sydney
on 10 November 1988, whilst on a Pacific cruise.

Fair
Princess(photograph by Marvin Jensen)

Dawn
Princess

After a successful
cruising career, Dawn
Princess was sold to V-Lines a Sitmar subsidiary in 1993 and was
renamed Albatros.
She cruised under charter to Phoenix Reisen, catering
mostly for the German market. Albatros was a frequent visitor to Australia,
whilst on her yearly round the world voyages. In November 2003 it was reported
that she experienced machinery problems, which required a great deal of work to
be done on her. Her story is continued in the last two chapters.

1995 P&O
Princess Cruises decided to sell the Fair Princess as the American public considered her
dated and was considered too old. She was purchased by Regency Cruises and she
was to be renamed Regent
Isle. However, Regency went bankrupt at the same time and Fair Princess
remained with Princess Cruises. She was laid up for almost 1 year, in Los Angeles and several months in Matzatlan, Mexico. However, as fate would have it Fair
Princess was about to find a new life cruising out of Australia.

Photographs on
ssmaritime and associate pages are by the author or from the author’s
private collection.In
addition there are some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies
and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors.
However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding
the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images
would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email address may be found
on www.ssmaritime.com
only), in order that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have
seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet these individuals
either refuse to provide credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well
that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show
these charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where
credit is due!

This notice covers all pages,
although, and I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly
credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page
is updated!